2013 Alsace single territorial collectivity referendum
2013 referendum in eastern France
The Alsace single territorial collectivity referendum (French: référendum sur la Collectivité territoriale d'Alsace) was a referendum held on Sunday, 7 April 2013 in Alsace, France, which aimed at the creation of the single territorial collectivity of Alsace through the merging of the regional council of Alsace and the departmental councils of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin. Even though there was a 57.65% majority of "Yes" votes, the project was not approved, as two other requirements (a majority in favour in both departments and a voter quorum) were not met.
Criteria
In order for the proposal to be approved, the votes in favour needed to be a majority in both departments (and at least 50% overall) and represent at least 25% of eligible voters (188,027 votes in Bas-Rhin and 130,439 votes in Haut-Rhin).
Opinions
Political parties
NB: These are the opinions expressed by the national boards of each party, even if there might be different opinions inside the parties.
Yes
Union for a Popular Movement
Europe Ecology – The Greens
Democratic Movement
Unser Land
Alsace d'abord
Union of Democrats and Independents
No
National Front, officially from 11 March
Left Front (France) (including Left Party and French Communist Party)
New Anticapitalist Party
Debout la République
Citizen and Republican Movement
Republican Popular Union
No opinion
Socialist Party (France) (PS)
PS 68 and independent elected representatives – Alsace: Yes
Intergroup of socialists and republicans from Alsace: No
Opinions of politicians
In alphabetical order
Support : François Bayrou (MoDem), André Bord (ex-RPR), Charles Buttner (UMP), Jean-François Copé (UMP), Jacques Fernique (EELV), Laurent Furst (UMP), Henri Goetschy (MoDem), Daniel Hoeffel (DVD), Guy-Dominique Kennel (UMP), Hervé Morin (NC), Philippe Richert (UMP), Jo Spiegel (PS), Yann Wehrling (MoDem).
Against : François Asselineau (UPR), Martine Binder (FN), Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (DLR), Nicolas Chevalier-Roch (DLR), Pierre Freyburger (PS), Constant Goerg (DVD), Pierre Laurent (PCF), Marine Le Pen (FN), Jean-Luc Mélenchon (PG), Gilbert Meyer (UMP), Raphaël Nisand (PS).
Results
Bas-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
Debates after the poll
The negative result of the April referendum was called into question in July 2013 as part of the draft law concerning the "modernization of territorial public action" and the "affirmation of metropolises", with amendment no 745 of UMP MP Hervé Gaymard abolishing the requirement for a referendum consultation to change the size of local authorities. After several delays, the Mixed Parity Committee finally abolished it in December 2013. However, on 25 June 2014, an amendment by rapporteur Michel Delebarre (PS), adopted on 4 July, "abolishes the compulsory consultation of voters in the event of a change in the boundaries of regions and departments as well as in the event of a merger".
In Alsace, on 22 September 2014, the elected representatives of the two general councils and those of the regional council voted 101 out of 122 in favour of a motion for the return of the council of Alsace as the only alternative to the territorial reform of the government which proposes the merger of Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne.
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